Constitutive behavior of high-strength concrete under dynamic loads

An experimental investigation into the behavior of short reinforced high-st rength concrete columns is described. Thirty reinforced concrete columns, e ither 240 mm diameter circular or 240 mm square and 720 mm high, containing different confining reinforcement configurations yield strengths of transv erse reinforcement, and concrete compressive strengths, were subjected to c oncentric loads to failure at different strain rates. Results presented inc lude an assessment of the effect of strain rate, different concrete compres sive strength, amount and distribution of longitudinal steel and amount of distribution of transverse steel. A stress-strain curve for confined high-s trength concrete loaded at a high strain rate (comparable with seismic load ing) is proposed and compared with the curve based on tests conducted at lo w strain rates.